Food

37 Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes and Ideas

Skip to main contentCookingPhotograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie StrangioPut down the scented candle. Turn Your You What These Some These These This Load it up with herbs and smoked salmon right before serving.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni3/37Crispy Mushroom Toast With RicottaGolden, deeply savory mushrooms piled onto creamy ricotta and good bread make this simple toast feel substantial enough to anchor your brunch spread.Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio4/37Simplest RostiA giant, crispy potato pancake with eggs baked right on top means no flipping and less stress–just a golden, crowd-pleasing centerpiece.5/37Lamb and Feta FrittataSure, frittatas are great for using up leftovers (case in point: the Use-It-Up Frittata), but this version goes all out with savory lamb, briny feta, and herbs that make it feel occasion-worthy.Photograph by Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon, Food Styling by Luciana Lamboy6/37Tuna Nicoise SaladThis classic French salad brings bright, briny flavors and plenty of texture to the table–and comes together with minimal effort, which is key for a relaxed morning.Photograph by Carl Ostberg, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Andrea Bonin7/37Curried Chickpeas and Baked EggsCanned chickpeas simmered in a punchy green curry sauce make a flavorful base for baked eggs. Serve This This With make-ahead elements (like perfect poached eggs) and a hollandaise that holds, this version keeps things surprisingly manageable.Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh12/37Shrimp and Grits With Fennel PotlikkerThis is a bit of a weekend project, but one that pays off in a big way. Start The Alex ( This one’s buttery, bacon-y, and custardy with a rich crust.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley14/37Sheet-Pan Merguez Hash With Fried EggsThis hands-off hash relies on the oven rather than the stovetop, letting spiced sausage and vegetables roast while you focus on everything else.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua15/37Crispy, Crunchy Chicken and WafflesButtermilk-brined fried chicken meets tender waffles and maple syrup in this over-the-top brunch classic. Photo Assemble it ahead of time, then bake until the center is custardy and the top is crisp.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua17/37Extra-Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese FrostingThe secret to these ultra-plush cinnamon rolls is tangzhong, a simple technique that keeps them soft and tender long after baking. Photo Serve it like a cake and let Mom decide whether she’s sharing.Photographs by Jenny Huang, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio19/37Granola SconesCrunchy, lightly sweet, and packed with texture, these scones split the difference between breakfast pastry and something a little more unexpected.Photo by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Pearl Jones20/37Double-Crumb Crumb CakeIf the best part of crumb cake is the topping, this recipe gets it right by doubling down on those buttery, cinnamon-sugar crumbs.Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Keep them warm in the oven so everyone can eat together.Alex Lau22/37Gluten-Free Chocolate Buckwheat WafflesBuckwheat and cocoa give these waffles a rich, nutty flavor, while still delivering crisp edges and a tender interior.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca23/37Brown-Butter Banana Nut MuffinsBrown butter adds a nutty depth to these tender muffins, while bananas keep things moist. Add chocolate chips if you want to lean dessert.Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Christina Allen24/37Strawberry Shortcake RollEnd your Mother’s Day brunch party with a dessert that feels celebratory but light, like this soft sponge rolled with whipped cream and fresh strawberriesPhotograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Christina Allen25/37Earl Grey-Chocolate Cupcakes With Blackberry FrostingFragrant tea, rich chocolate, and naturally vibrant blackberry frosting make these cupcakes feel just fancy enough for the occasion without being fussy.Photographs by Jenny Huang, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio26/37Ricotta Cornmeal Pound CakeRicotta (or full-fat cottage cheese) keeps this cake tender and rich, while cornmeal adds subtle texture. It’s not too sweet, making it perfect alongside coffee.Photo by Laura Murray27/37BA’s Best Strawberry Rhubarb PieSweet strawberries and tart rhubarb come together in a flaky crust that feels perfectly timed for spring celebrations like Mother’s Day.Photograph by Shawn Michael Jones, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca28/37Hot-and-Sour Fruit SaladSweet ripe fruit tossed with lime, fish sauce, chiles, and a little sugar might feel a little unexpected on your Mother’s Day brunch table–but that’s exactly why it works.Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Christina Allen29/37Extra-Creamy Deviled EggsBlending whole hard-boiled eggs into the filling makes these deviled eggs especially smooth and rich, a small trick that delivers big results.Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht30/37Smashed Asparagus SaladLightly crushing raw asparagus helps tenderize it, turning a simple ingredient into a surprisingly satisfying and very spring-forward side dish that tastes great alongside a simple French omelet.Photograph by Doaa Elkady, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gozde Eker31/37Grapefruit CrudoThis bright, slightly bitter salad pairs citrus with creamy avocado, crunchy nuts, and a little heat for a refreshing counterpoint to richer dishes.Laura Murray32/37Pea and Prosciutto SaladSweet peas, salty prosciutto, and peppery greens come together in a dish that looks beautiful and tastes like peak spring.Photo by Gentl and Hyers, food Styling by Susie Theodorou, prop Styling by Nina Lalli33/37Fresh Fruit With Cheese and Peppery NutsA fruit platter gets a savory upgrade with salty cheese, crunchy nuts, and a little pepper, making it feel more composed and intentional.Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop styling by Christine Keely, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich34/37Hugo SpritzA lighter, more floral take on the classic spritz, made with prosecco, elderflower liqueur, fresh mint, and lime. Easy to drink, even easier to refill.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Eliza Mozer35/37Banana-Blueberry Smoothie With TahiniThis isn’t your average smoothie. Frozen blueberries and banana keep things familiar, while tahini adds nutty richness and just enough depth to feel brunch-worthy.Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.36/37Citrus SlushyThis icy, citrus-forward cocktail comes together quickly in a blender and is best served outside if the weather cooperates.Photograph by Rana Duzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni37/37Strawberry-Ginger LimeadeFresh strawberries, lime juice, and a little ginger make this drink a refreshing way to balance a rich Mother’s Day brunch spread.Joe joined the Bon Appetit team in 2022 after climbing the editorial ranks for a few years at Conde Nast’s other food publication, Epicurious. As Look She As someone who learned how to cook … Read MoreExplore Bon AppetitHolidaysBrunchSpringEntertaining

Food

The Best Wine Fridges for Tiny Spaces, Major Collections, and Everything in Between (2026)

This is a serious refrigerator for people who don’t play around with their wine collection. The single-zone La Premiere L is able to hold 146-200+ bottles of various shapes. The final number depends on how you arrange your wine horizontally, vertically, or stacked. Raftery notes that the EuroCave La Premiere is always the most reliable for bottles of all shapes and sizes. You can often find these fridges in restaurants which have a great wine program. The aluminum walls and the constant, but not too loud ventilation keep the air fresh. A charcoal filter is also included to remove airborne impurities which can enter bottles through the corks or caps. The digital display screen allows you to monitor the temperature and humidity levels inside the fridge. The LED white light is also softer than other refrigerators we tested. You can also choose between a solid glass door or one with UV protection, and which way the door swings. It comes with a warranty of one year for the entire refrigerator and five years on the internal parts. You can also take advantage of Wine Enthusiast’s customer service. In the age of A.I. The Goguette is a new brand of Eurocave refrigerators that has been praised by BA writer. The Goguette review can be found here, but the La Premiere L was a better buy than the smaller and more expensive (though elegant) Goguette. The price is also not to be sniffed at. It’s a lot to spend nearly $4,000 on an appliance only some people consider essential to their happiness. I also filled the fridges up with wine to test their capacity. Since I used each refrigerator over weeks, rather than years, i also scoured user forums, retailers’ comment sections, and the deeper reaches of wine Reddit to gain insights into the fridges’ performance over time. Wine fridges are designed to protect your bottles from heat, light damage and other potentially harmful elements. The wine fridges are designed to store bottles in a different way than food refrigerators. “Wine refrigerators provide a stable and Goldilocks-like temperature for all types wine, as opposed a fridge that is usually too cold, which gets opened and shut more often,” says Chris Raftery.

Food

Trump DoorDashed McDonald’s to the White House

Open Tab is a weekly roundup that includes news, gossip and stories I have kept open in my tabs. Last week, we covered the scathing reviews of Travis Kelce’s and Patrick Mahomes 1587 Prime. I enjoyed reading Caity Weaver’s extensive investigation into the best freebread in America. I spent the first 1,000 words or so waiting for a mention Bertucci’s warm, perfect, and free rolls, only to have them dismissed without much ceremony. I noticed that there was a lot of grumbling regarding the Erewhon opening at LACMA on the 19th of April. What do you think of the merging of two of LA’s greatest cultural institutions in this way? Philz coffee has not changed its anti-Pride Flag stance from last week. According to a leaked document reported by the San Francisco Chronicle this week, Philz coffee will have “a new, ‘unifying,’ piece of artwork in every store.” I vote for a photorealistic Divine mural. He served fries to battleground states during the election, and welcomed guests at the White House with big macs. He even ate cheeseburgers allegedly as part of his evening wind-down ritual. How does his penchant for fast-food fit with the MAHA movement’s juggernaut? It’s impossible to say. But given Trump’s love for McDonald’s, the news that he recently DoorDashed a few to the Oval Office is not surprising. It’s less shocking to learn that the whole thing was an attempt to promote Trump’s “no-tax on tips” policy, which, in reality, servers are not all that excited about. The current culture war in the United States is exemplified by Trump’s inexplicable question to the Dasher, Sharon Simmons. She responded, “I don’t really have an opinion about that.” In 2023, I wrote about Utah-founded Crumbl being the fastest-growing dessert store in the country. Swig, another Utah-based company, helped popularize Dirty Soda. The concept has exploded in part because of its appearances on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. But this week, the Utahification of food has hit a rough patch. McDonald’s is on the Dirty Soda train, offering drinks like the Dirty Dr. Pepper, which is a Dr. Pepper with coconut cream and lime. But Crumbl, Utah’s original export, appears to be in trouble. According to franchise documents, after a slowdown in growth in 2024 the company reported less money per franchisee in 2025. Could this be the end of the company? Will Crumbl be able to pivot towards AI to save the company in some way? I can’t wait for the answer.

Food

The Best Air Fryers Do a Lot More Than Reheat French Fries (2026)

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is the best option for those who want an air fryer that offers maximum versatility, but have limited counter space. The countertop convection or air fryer/toaster oven combines the crisping power and functionality of an oven with the basket-style air fryers that you are familiar with. It is a true multi-purpose kitchen appliance. Breville makes several different models, but this is the best air-fryer-toaster-oven for most home cooks. It combines performance and value. The digital control panel has 13 presets, including the air fryer. Each one uses the right combination heating elements to make perfect toast, bagels and cookies, or slow-cooking. Breville’s companion application is included in a smarter, more expensive model for advanced presets. This includes a rotisserie chicken. The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro consistently delivered great results in testing. It was great at frying foods that needed to be laid out in a flat and even layer on the crisper tray, such as veggie burgers, salmon fillets, or sweet potato fries. This model is a favorite of BA staffers, Test Kitchen editors and award-winning cookbook writer Nik Sharma who developed some BA’s favorite recipes for air fryers. We also found that, in general, food benefited from a higher cooking temperature (and often slightly longer cook time) compared to the basket-style winners. We also found that, in general, food benefited from a higher cooking temperature (and often slightly longer cook time) relative to the basket-style winners.Useful for: If you want an air fryer oven with a large capacity, a variety of functions, and don’t mind that it will always sit on your countertop.BrevilleSmart Oven Air Fryer Compact$250 Amazon$250 $200 (20% off) Williams Sonoma$250 $200 (20% off) BrevillePros and consPros:Versatile cooking functionsCompact sizeCons:Still takes up more horizontal space than most basket-style modelsHigher price point than basket-style picksCapacity: .5 cubic feetWattage: 1800

5 Cooking functions: Toast, bagel, broil, pizza, bake/roast

5 air-frying functions: fries, wings, bacon and crispy reheat

Color: Stainless Steel

Weight: 15.8 lb.

Dimensions: 15.7″ x 16.9″, x 10″

Warranty: 2 Years

Food

Pasta Alla Vodka and More Recipes We Made This Week

It’s not a secret that Bon Appetit’s editors cook a great deal for work. It’s no surprise then that we cook a great deal in our free time. Here are some of the recipes that we’re cooking this month to feed our families, entertain friends, satisfy our sweet tooth, use leftovers, etc. Click here for more staff favorites. Tahini brownies to make for momI was recently at my parents’ home with an afternoon free, so I decided to bake something. “I have a craving for tahini chocolate brownies,” said my mother. Accepted the challenge. Enter food director Chris Morocco’s version. These brownies are gluten-free. I don’t like to bake with flour, but the lack of it makes them more fudgy. Maple syrup worked just as well in place of light agave for the tahini spiral. As we dipped the rich squares in milky tea, it became clear why my mother craved these flavors. On another part of the kitchen table, there was a magazine clipping with this exact recipe. Test Kitchen editor, Rebecca FirkserGluten-Free Chocolate Tahini BrowniesDavid Lebovitz’s timeless gluten-free recipe inspired our GF take on classic, fudgy, brownies with a sweet, modern tahini spiral.View RecipeA very crispy saladArmed a punnet full of sugar snap peas from the farmers market and some precariously ripe Avocados, I turned to Epicurious for timely inspiration. It directed me to Kendra Vaculin’s Crispy tortilla salad with snap peas and avocado. The name was enough to convince me. I love crunch and the promise of tortilla chips and snappeas in a single dish was enough to get me to try it. I then scanned the ingredients list and found a lot more texture: radishes cucumbers and jalapenos. My luck! I decided to fry the chips myself because, why not? (just use FryAway for the oil). Because I don’t care for cilantro, I substituted parsley and mint. Kelsey Jane Youngman Senior Service EditorCrispy tortilla salad with snap peas and avocadoA twist on the classic Fattoush salad. A creamy avocado and lime dressing is used instead of the traditional pita chip.View RecipeCompany worthy olive oil cakeI’m young, fun, spontaneous etc. but a last minute dinner invite always spikes cortisol. I know I can’t go empty-handed but what should I bring? This Spiced Olive Oil cake with Orange Glaze has saved me on more than one occasion. I like to spice up the recipe. I add more black pepper for florality, and a pinch of cardamom to bring out the warming notes. The olive oil is the most important ingredient. I use a nice olive oil that friends brought back from Portugal. Its verdant and zippy flavor is what anchors the baked cake. Baked pasta alla vodkaMy coworker Mallary Santucci prepared this Pasta Alla Vodka the other week for a lunch team. She didn’t stop there, but went one step further. (As a senior chef producer would do) She layered the rigatoni with mozzarella and poured the sauce over it in a casserole dish. It was gone in a matter of minutes, I’d say ten total. It had brown, craggy sides. I couldn’t help but make it again at home a few days after, and finished with a bunch of basil. Nina Moskowitz is the associate editor of cooking.Pasta alla VodkaIt has a creamy texture. It’s cheesy. It’s tangy. It’s going to be your favorite pantry pasta. View Recipe

Food

These Little Luxuries Under $60 Make Perfect Mother’s Day Gifts

If mid-century American advertising is to be believed, the way to your mom’s heart is through a toaster. “There’s no gift more welcome than an electric appliance,” reads a 1948 ad for Proctor toasters. Or take this gem: “Christmas morning, she’ll be happier with a Hoover.”

Oh, no thank you! Don’t get us wrong, we’re passionate about kitchen gear, but unless your mom explicitly asked for a shiny new blender (or stand mixer or juicer), it’s best to steer clear of the appliance-as-present path, lest you risk sending the message that you’d like the mom in your life to do more cooking or cleaning for you. This Mother’s Day, show your mom, grandmother, the mother of your children—whoever you’re celebrating—that you appreciate her by gifting a little luxury that helps her treat herself.

The suggestions on this list are thoughtful, creative, and a little indulgent, like a hand soap that softens your skin with each wash, black truffle popcorn from a brand beloved by Michelin-starred chefs, and whimsical cocktail napkins designed by fashion influencer Emma Chamberlain. And the best part is these fancy finds look so much more expensive than they are—everything is under $60.

Atlas Coffee Club

Coffee Subscription

~~$39~~ $20 (49% off)

Atlas Coffee Club

If your mom of the “but first, coffee” ilk? Atlas is one of the best coffee subscriptions for anyone who wants to sample single-origin coffee from around the world while supporting fair trade and sustainable practices. Recipients first choose their preferred roast level, brew type, and coffee quantity (ranging from a half bag to four bags per month), then receive freshly roasted coffee with an ID card detailing sourcing information and tasting notes. Subscription prices range from $11 for a 6-ounce half bag to $17 for a 12-ounce single bag.

For something even more special (and a bit more expensive), Atlas partnered with And Sons chocolates out of New York for a gift box pairing coffees from six different countries with a delicious box chocolates and bon bons.

Mornings at Levain Votive Candle Set

$19

Snif

The dreamy aromas of Levain’s famous cookies are perfectly captured in Snif’s candle trio, which has notes of caramelized chocolate, vanilla dough, sea salt, and walnuts. Packaged in a giftable blue box, the scrumptious-smelling votives have a six-hour burn time and will make any space feel as warm and inviting as the popular bakery.